The blackout, which began at 10am on Tuesday, June 10, is expected to last until 5pm on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced a major power outage affecting large parts of the North-East as part of efforts to erect new infrastructure at the Bauchi 330kV substation. 

The blackout, which began at 10am on Tuesday, June 10, is expected to last until 5pm on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

According to an official memo signed by Engr. J.O. Joseph, TCN’s Regional Operations Manager in Bauchi, the outage is necessary to allow EPC contractors erect 330kV Turn-In and Turn-Out towers and cross the existing 132kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe transmission line.

The outage will affect key states in the region including Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe. Areas such as Damaturu, Molai, Yola, and Jalingo will experience a complete power outage, while limited electricity will be available in Biu and parts of Gombe via the Dadin Kowa Hydro Power Plant. 

Maiduguri’s Baga Road substation will receive supply from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP), while Nguru, Machina, and surrounding communities will be serviced by the 33kV Nguru feeder.

The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) confirmed the development, stating that the blackout will affect several injection substations and millions of customers across the affected states.

Meanwhile, Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) Plc announced that the ongoing load shedding in Bauchi and Gombe is due to “limited power allocation from TCN” and construction activities along the 330kV Jos-Gombe line.

“Gombe is temporarily being supplied through the 132kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe transmission line and the Dadin Kowa Hydro Station, which are currently unable to meet the full demand. This has led to load shedding across affected communities, including the Ashaka Cement Plant,” the company said.

JED appealed to customers for patience and understanding during the period and urged them to safeguard critical electricity infrastructure from vandalism.

This latest outage comes just eight months after a widespread blackout in October 2024 that plunged 17 states across the North into darkness. At the time, the tripping of the 330kV Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines resulted in the loss of 468 megawatts of power. It took TCN nearly two weeks to restore supply.

A retired TCN engineer who spoke anonymously said the recurring outages are tied to the lack of alternative transmission routes in the North-East.

“There is only one major line—the 132kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe line—serving the entire North-East. When maintenance or faults happen, the region is thrown into darkness,” he said.

He disclosed that talks between the federal government and the World Bank are ongoing to fund a double transmission line project for the region, but the proposal is yet to be finalised.